98 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The eggs of this species are of an oval shape, one end being only a little 

 less rounded than the other. Their average measurement is one inch in 

 length by .80 in breadth. Their ground-color is a dull chalky-white, over 

 wliich are distributed well-defined blotches of a light umber-brown, and also 

 a number of indistinct markings of purple. The spots are pretty uniform 

 in these colors, but vary greatly in size and distribution. In some eggs tliey 

 largely consist of fine dots, in others they are in bold blotches. In some the 

 brown is more confluent and the effect that of a deeper shade. 



Genus CARDINALIS, Bonap. 



Cardinalis, Bonaparte, Saggio di una distribuzione metod. dei Animagli Vertebrati, 1831 

 (Agassiz). (Type, Loxia cardinalis, Linn.) 



Gen. Char. Bill enormously large ; culraen very slightly curved, commissure sinuated ; 

 lower jaw broader than the length of the gonys, considerably wider than the upper jaw, 

 about as deep as the latter. Tarsi longer than middle toe; outer toe rather the longer, 

 reaching a little beyond the base of the middle one ; hind toe not so long. Wings 



Cardinalis virginianits. 



moderate, reaching over the basal third of the exposed part of the tail. Four outer quills 

 graduated ; the first equal to the secondaries. Tail long, decidedly longer than the wings, 

 considerably graduated ; feathers broad, truncated a little obliquely at the end, the corners 

 rounded. Colors red. Head crested. 



The essential characters of this genus are the crested head ; very large 

 and thick bill extending far l)ack on the forehead, and only moderately 

 curved above ; tarsus longer tlian middle toe ; mucli graduated wings, the 

 first primary equal to the secondary quills ; the long tail exceeding the 

 wings, broad and much graduated at the end. 



Of this genus, only two species are known, one of them being exclusively 

 South American, tlie other belonging to North America, but in different regions 

 modified into representative races. They may be defined as follows. 



